Bottle cap



D c 21, 1954 G. H. HUTAFF, JR 2,697,532

BOTTLE CAP Filed June 15, 1951 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTCR 4 GEORGE HHUMP/5J4 ATTORNEYS Dec. 21, 1954 G. H. HUTAFF, JR 2,697,532

BOTTLE CAP Filed June 15, 1951 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR- GEO/9G5 Hum/T,JR.

5 ATTORNEYS United States Patent BOTTLE CAP George H. Hutalf, Jr.,Wilmington, N. C.

Application June 15, 1951, Serial No. 231,822

'13 Claims. (Cl. 215-39) My invention relates to new and usefulimprovements -in bottle caps and more particularly to bottle caps of thecrown type designed to be crimped on the mouth of a bottle or like,container.

The removal of the conventional crown cap ordinarily necessitates theuse of a separate tool which may become misplaced or is not readilyavailable, and it is the primary ob ect of my invention to provide acrown cap having incorporated therein means which .permits the removalof such cap with ease and dispatch without resort to a separate orindependent tool oropener.

Another object of the invention resides in'the provision of a bottle caphaving upper and lower interlocked nestable portions, .each portionhaving oppositely disposed depending flange portions whichxinterfit andcollectively constitute a continuous circular .bottle .crimping skirtfor the two-part bottle cap when the parts 'are in interlocked nestedrelation.

A furtherand most important object of the invention is to provide atwo-part bottle cap of the character described which simulates aconventional crown cap in appearance and wherein the upper and lowernestable portions of. said cap are firmly held in interlockingengagementone with respect to the other for application to the mouth of a bottleas a unitary structure and with the purpose in view of having saidtwo-part cap readily handled in conventional bottle capping machines.

A still further object of the invention-resides in providing a two-partbottle cap of the nestable type set forth and with each part havingupturned depending flange portions which collectively constitute acontinuous circular double-thickness bottle crimping skirt for thebottle cap.

Another object residesin the provision of a bottle cap having upper andlower nestable portions, the lower portion being weakened by acentrallydisposed slit and also being equipped with a depending flange, and theupper portion having depending tabs on opposite tsides'thereof adaptedto interlock with the flange of said lower portion for holding theportions in nestable relation.

A further'object of vthe=inventionisthe provision of z a split wirereinforcing element in association with the two part cap to aid inholdi-ng'thev cap parts in their assembled relation.

With the above and other objects inview, which will appear as thedescription proceeds, my invention .consists in the novel details ofconstruction and arrangement of parts. described in the followingspecification and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, and while Ihave shown and describedthe preferred embodiments of my invention, asthey now appear to me, it-will beundcrstood that such changes may bemade as willfallwithin the scope of the appended claims.

in the drawings- Fig. l is a'perspective view-of apreferred form of myimproved cap, showing the same in place on a'bottleneck.

Fig. 2 is a view similar to Fig. 1, illustrating the position of theparts in opening orseparating the upper portion of the cap topermitremoval of the lower portion thereof.

Fig. 3 is an exploded-view in perspective,'the cap portions being shownseparated.

Fig. 4 is an enlarged top plan view of the cap shown in Fi s. 1, Zand 3.

Fig. 5 is avertical section taken on'line. 5-5 of Fig. 4, looking in thedirection ofthe arrows.

Figs. 6 and 7 are fragmentaryside elevations of the cap shown in Fig.4.taken on lines 6-6 and 7-7 respectively, looking in the 'direction'ofthe arrows.

Fig. 8 is a fragmentary vertical section taken on line 8-8 of Fig. 4,looking in the direction of the arrows.

Figs. -9 through 12 illustrate a modified form of my-invention wherein asplit ring is shown in combination'with the upper and lower capportions.

Fig. 9 is a top plan view,'full lines illustrating the parts inassembled relation, and dotted lines=showing the position and relationof the'parts when separated in the opening operation.

Fig. 10 isa vertical section-taken on line 10-10 of Fig. 9 looking inthe direction of the arrows.

Figs. 11 and 12 are fragmentary side elevations of the cap shown in Fig.9 taken-on lines 11-11 and 12-12 respectively, looking in the directionof the arrows.

In carrying out the invention, thecap is formedof upper and lowerportions'adapted to be normally nested and held in interlocked relationwith each other, and whereby said two-part cap may be applied to themouth of a bottle or *otherreceptacle as a unitary structure by theusual well-known forms of capping machines.

In Figs. 1 to 8 inclusive of the drawings, I have illustrated one formof my invention wherein 1 designates the upper cap portion with itsdepending flange 2, and -3 the lower cap portion with its dependingflange or skirt generally indicatedat 4. A'conventional cork or likesealing member is shown at 5. integrally formed with theupper capportion 1 are depending tab portions'6 and 7, said tab portionsextending to a .point considerably belowthe a substantially greaterdistance than the flange of upper cap portion .1 andis'bent outwardlyand upwardly as shown at.13 to provide aseat or abutment'14 for thedepending flange .2 of upper cap portion 1. Also,-in the assembledrelation of. the upper and lower cap portions, the upwardly directededges of the inwardly and upwardly bent tab nortionsfi and 7 abut thelower edges of the single-thickness portion-of flange 4 at the cutoutareas 11 and12of the lower cap portion 3, and

.this as indicated at.15 and 16 in Fig. 5- of the drawing,thus-providing an interlockingconnection-between the upper and lowencapportions when said parts are'in assembled nestable relation.

In such assembled relation, upper cap'portion 1 tightly engages lowercap portion 3, the walls ofslitlt) being 'in close contact and the capportions in combination with cork element'S adequately sealing'thecontents of the capped receptacle. In this connection, it is well tonote that the cap portions and their flanges and tabs are so dimensionedthat, when the parts are in assembled relation, the free edge portionsof the two-part cap, as heretofore referred to (14, 15 and 16), are inproper abutting relation, and that whenplacing theupper cap port-ionupon the lower cap portion, the'tabs-fi and '7 with their inwardly andupwardly bent portions snap into proper position to bring about theabutting edge relation at the points 15 and 16, thus firmly locking thecap parts together as a unitary device-to be handled'by the conventionalbottle capping machine in applying said two-part cap to a bottle orsimilar receptacle.

When it is desired to remove the cap, either tab portion 6 m7 is engagedby the fingers and pulled outwardly and upwardly. :By this operation,the upper cap-portion will become separated from the lower cap portionand the resiliency of the material willcause. a spreading of the slit 8,whereupon the lower cap portion may be easily removed with the fingers,if .it has notalready fallen off.

It has heretofore been pointed out vthat'the depending flange of lowercapportion 3-.is .bent outwardly and upwardly, and further that the freeends of .tab portions 6 and 7 are inwardly and upwardly bent, and inthis connection, it will be noted that these upturned flange-portionswhich are aligned one with the other, constitute a continuous circulardouble-thickness bottle crimping skirt portion for the bottle cap whenthe cap portions are in their assembled interlocked relation.

In Figs. 9 to 12 inclusive, I have illustrated another form of myinvention which is substantially the same as the embodiment justdescribed but includes an additional element 17, said element consistingof a split wire reinforcing ring which is positioned in the U-shapedtrough formed by bending the tabs of the upper cap portion inwardly andupwardly and the flange of the lower cap portion outwardly and upwardly.This wire element 17 serves as an additional means for holding the upperand lower cap portions in their proper nestable relation. and byreference particularly to Figs. 11 and 12, it will be noted that thefree ends of said wire reinforcing ring are positioned on that side ofthe cap carrying the narrower tab portion 6. In this connection, and aswill be clearly seen in Fig. 9 of the drawing, the split wire ring aspositioned in the U-shaped trough above referred to, extends for almostits entire length continuously through the trough as formed by the lowercap portion and also the trough of the wider tab portion 7 as carried bythe upper cap portion, thus providing a hinge-like connec tion betweensaid up er and lower cap portions.

Also. as shown in Figs. 9 and ll, the free ends of said split wire ring17 extend outwardly from the lower cap portion trough on each side ofthe narrower tab portion 6 as indicated at 1818. so that at these pointssaid free ends enter the trough of said tab portion 6 from oppositesides thereof, but only for a very slight distance or at leastsufficiently to retain the cap parts in proper nested relation, while atthe same time permitting said narrower tab portion 6 to-be easilyreleased for its outward and u ward movement in removing the cap from abottle or like container to which it might be applied in its sealingrelation.

I claim:

1. A two-part bottle cap having upper and lower nestable portions, eachportion having spaced apart upturned depending flanges arran ed ininterfitting aligned relation and collectively constituting a continuouscircular doublethickness bottle crimping portion for said bottle cap.

2. A two-part closure cap for bottles and analogous containerscomprising upper and lower nestable portions adapted to be held ininterfitting relation one with the other, said cap portions on oppositesides of each cap portion having dependin skirt portions, all of saidskirt portions assuming an aligned relation and adapted to grip theupper end portion of the neck of a bottle or like container when thesaid closure cap is in use. and the skirt portions of the up er capportion having interlocking relationshi with the lower ca portion atpoints between and adjacent to the de ending skirt portions of saidlower cap portion, whereby said cap portions are firmly held together.

3. A closure for bottles or the like including nested upper and lowercap portions adapted to be applied to the mouth of a receptacle as aunitary structure. each of said portions having a top and a dependingflange, the lower cap portion having a slit extending through a part ofthe top thereof and also through the flange of said lower cap portion atone side thereof. said lower cap portion havin the maior portion of itsflange bent outwardly and upwardly to provide a double-thickness criming portion for the cap and a seat or contacting edge for the majorportion of the depending flange of the upper cap portion when the capportions are in nested relation, spaces being provided on opposite sidesof the lower cap portion between the double-thickness crimping portionof said cap portion and with the single thickness flan e of the lowercap portion at said spaces depending to a point above the lower edge ofsaid double-thickness crimping. portion, and said upper cap portionhaving a pair of depending tabs oppositely disposed u on said cap ortionand fitting within the spaces provided upon said lower cap portion, thedepending ends of said tabs being bent inwardly and upwardly to providedouble-thickness crimping portions in line with the double-thicknessgripping portions on the lower cap portion and with the edge of theinwardly and upwardly bent portion of each depending tab lying directlybeneath the lower edge of the single-thickness flange of the lower capportion when the cap portions are in nested relation, whereby the upperand lower cap portions are firmly locked together in their nestedrelation and ready for use incident to the capping operation.

4. A bottle cap having, in combination, upper and lower nestable capportions adapted to be applied to the mouth of a bottle as a unitarystructure, said cap portions having spaced apart interfitting upturneddepending flanges in aligned relation when the cap portions are nested,said upturned flanges forming a continuous U-shaped trough upon thetwo-part bottle cap, and a split wire reinforcing ring positioned withinsaid trough for securing the upper and lower cap portions in theirnestable relation, said split wire reinforcing ring intermediate itslength serving as a hinge-like connection between said upper and lowercap portions.

5. A bottle cap of the character described including upper and lowernestable portions adapted to be applied to the mouth of a bottle as aunitary structure, each of the portions having a top and a dependingflange, a split wire reinforcingring partially encircling the flange ofthe lower portion and also connected at a point intermediate its lengthto the upper portion for pivotally connecting the portions for swingingmovement one relative to the other, and means carried by the upperportion and positioned between the split ends of the reinforcing ringwhen the cap portions are in nested relation, said means serving as alever for lifting the upper cap portion upon its pivotal connectionrelative to the lower portion and in turn permit removal of said lowerportion from the mouth of the bottle.

6. A bottle cap of the character described including upper and lowernestable portions adapted to be applied to the mouth of a bottle as aunitary structure, each of the portions having a top and a dependingflange, said lower portion having a slit extending through a part of thetop thereof and also through its flange at one side thereof, a splitwire reinforcing ring partially encircling the flange of the lowerportion and also connected intermediate its length to the upper portionand at a point approximately opposite the split in said lower portionflange, whereby said cap portions are pivotally con -'nected togetherfor swinging movement one relative to the other, and means carried bythe upper portion and positioned adjacent the split in said lowerportion flange when the cap portions are in nested relation, said meansserving as a lever for lifting the upper cap portion upon its pivotalconnection relative to the lower portion and in turn permit spreading ofthe split in the lower portion and removal of said lower portion fromthe mouth of the bottle.

7. A bottle cap of the character described including upper and lowernestable portions adapted to be applied to the mouth of a bottle as aunitary structure, each of the portions having a top and a dependingflange, said lower portion having a slit extending through a part of thetop thereof and also through its flange at one side thereof, meanscarried by both portions permitting interlocking engagement one with theother for firmly holding said cap portions in their nestable relation,and means carried by the upper cap portion and positioned adjacent thesplit in said lower portion flange when the cap portions are in nestedrelation to serve as a lever for lifting the upper cap portion relativeto the lower portion and in turn permit spreading of the split in thelower portion and ready removal of said lower portion from the mouth ofthe bottle.

8. A two-part closure cap for bottles and like containers comprisingupper and lower cap portions adapted to be held in interlocking nestablerelation for application to the mouth of a bottle or similar container,both of said cap portions having depending flange sections which assumeinterfitting aligned positions with respect to each other whenthe capportions are in their nestable interlocked relation and collectivelyconstituting a continuous circular bottle crimping flange for saidbottle cap or closure, said lower cap portion centrally slitted acrossthe major portion thereof for ready removal from the bottle mouth whenreleased by the upper cap portion, the depending flange sections of saidupper cap portion having interlocking engagement with an edge of saidlower cap portion to thereby maintain said cap portions in firm readilydetachable relation and with the slitted lower cap portion held in itsclosed or sealing position as assumed for the purposes intended, wherebysaidtwopart cap may be applied as a unit to the mouth of a bottle orlike container for sealing the same and where at least one of thedepending flange sections of the upper cap portion is capable of beingdisconnected from its interlocked relation with the lower cap portionfor releasing said cap portions from their nested relation to permitready and easy removal of said lower cap portion from its sealedrelation with the bottle mouth.

9. A bottle cap of the character described including upper and lower capportions adapted to be applied to the mouth of a bottle as a unitarystructure, each of the cap portions having a top and depending flangesections, a split wire reinforcing ring secured to certain of saiddepending flange sections and at a point intermediate the length of saidsplit ring serving as a hinge between said cap portions, and a flangesection carried by the upper cap portion and adapted to interlock withsaid lower cap portion at a point between the ends of said split ring tomaintain said cap portions in connected relation, the ends of said splitring being detachably secured to said last mentioned flange section ofthe upper cap portion to prevent accidental movement thereof from itsinterlocking relation with the lower cap portion, whereby upon movementof said flange section in an outward direction it may be released fromthe ends of said split ring and its interlocking relation with the lowercap portion and serve as a lever for lifting the upper cap portion uponits pivotal hinge connection relative to the lower cap portion and forthe purposes intended.

10. A bottle cap closure having upper and lower interlocked cap portionsnested together and forming a unitary structure for application to themouth of a bottle or other container, each of the cap portions having atop and also depending peripheral flange sections arranged ininterfitting aligned relation and collectively constituting a continuousbottle crimping portion for said bottle cap, said lower cap portionbeing split diametrically across its top and downwardly at one end ofthe split across its flange to divide said lower cap portion intospreadable connected sections capable of independent movement to therebypermit relatively easy removal of the lower cap portion from its sealingrelation with the container when released from its interlocked relationwith the upper cap portion, and interlocking means at the periphery ofsaid cap portions including a peripheral flange section formed on one ofthe cap portions for cooperative overlapping relation with a horizontaledge formed on the other cap portion, said flange section capable ofmovement in an outward direction to release the cap portions from theirinterlocking relationship and thus relieve the split lower I cap fromits normal applied gripping action upon the container.

11. A bottle closure having, in combination, upper and lower interlockedcap portions in nested relation and constituting a unitary structure forapplication to the mouth of a bottle or other container, each of the capportions having a top and also depending peripheral flange sectionsarranged in interfitting aligned relation and collectively constitutinga continuous bottle crimping portion for said bottle cap, andinterlocking means between said cap portions at the periphery thereofand including a relatively narrow resilient flange section carried bythe upper cap portion and adapted by inward snap action movement fordetachable engagement with a downwardly facing horizontal edge of thelower cap portion at the periphery thereof upon movement in asubstantially vertical direction of one cap portion toward the other andto thereby firmly hold said cap portions in interlocking relation onewith the other to prevent separation of said cap portions in a verticaldirection, said lower cap portion being split diametrically across itstop and downwardly at one end of the split across the flange to dividesaid lower cap portion into spreadable connected sections capable ofindependent movement to thereby permit easy removal thereof from itssealing relation with the container when released from its interlockingrelationship with said upper cap portion, and said resilient flangesection also serving as a lever for detaching the closure cap from thecontainer when said flange section is moved outwardly and lifted todisengage the same from its interlocking relation with said horizontaledge of the lower cap portion in releasing the lower cap portion forready removal from its sealing relationship with the container.

12. A bottle cap having, in combination, upper and lower nesting capportions, and oppositely disposed relatively narrow bottle neck crimpingflange sections carried by one of said cap portions and eachinterlocking with a horizontal edge of the other cap portion at theperiphery thereof for holding the cap portions in detachableinterlocking relation as a unitary structure for application to themouth of a bottle or other container, said lower cap portion havingcrimping flange sections and also being split diametrically across itstop and downwardly at one end of the split across the flange to dividesaid lower cap portion into spreadable connected sections capable ofindependent movement to thereby permit relatively easy removal of thelower cap portion from its sealing relation with the container whenreleased from its interlocked relation with the upper cap portion, saidcap portions adapted to be assembled in interlocking relation bymovement of the cap portions in a substantially vertical direction.

13. A bottle cap of the character described including upper and lowernesting cap portions detachably connected together, each of the capportions having a top and also depending peripheral flange sectionsarranged in interfitting aligned relation and collectively constitutinga continuous bottle crimping portion for said bottle cap, a split wirereinforcing ring secured to certain of the adjacent depending flangesections of each cap portion, and with that portion of said split ringintermediate the length thereof serving as a hinge between said capportions, and detachable interlocking means between said cap portionsincluding a flange section carried by the upper cap portion andoppositely disposed with respect to the hinge portion of said splitring, said last mentioned flange section adapted for interlockingengagement with a downwardly facing horizontal edge of said lower capportion at a point between the ends of said split ring, whereby said capportions are hingedly and detachably interlocked in sealing connectedrelation as a unitary structure for application to the mouth of a bottleor other container.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS NumberName Date 1,840,673 Jenkins Jan. 12, 1932 1,937,271 Garcia Nov. 28, 19332,009,666 Keith July 30, 1935 2,142,636 Evansen Jan. 3, 1939 2,231,055Coon Feb. 11, 1941 2,295,946 Grandy Sept. 15, 1942 2,426,101 Hutafl Aug.19, 1947 2,524,458 Mattis Oct. 3, 1950 2,571,898 Kondakon Oct. 16, 1951FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 273 Great Britain of 1883 280,760Germany Aug. 19, 1913

